Walk in a nutshellLeaving from the lively streets of Castle Douglas, it's a short walk by Carlingwark loch to Threave Gardens. From here a selection of woodland and riverside paths lead to the historic remains of Threave Castle – a short boat journey across the Dee is required to reach the castle itself. Quiet country roads return easily to Castle Douglas.

Why it's so specialCastle Douglas rests among the rural beauty of the Galloway countryside in south-west Scotland. It's also Scotland's national food town, so-called due to its multitude of foodie shops and the quality of local ingredients. The town even has its own boutique brewery.

Keep your eyes peeled forThe custodian's bell at Threave Castle. Ring the bell if you would like the ferryman to take you across the river Dee to visit the castle. (The service runs from 1 April to 31 October.) Only the main tower survives but the castle was quite substantial in its heyday. Archibald "The Grim" Douglas built the castle in 1370 and it has endured many power struggles over the centuries, particularly between the Douglas clan and King James II.

Recover afterwardsSulwath brewery is the most southerly in Scotland. You can buy (and taste) their impeccable beers (pictured) in the visitor centre.

If it's tipping downKeeping the food theme going, Cream o' Galloway is based at Rainton Farm, south of Castle Douglas. It makes a mouth-watering array of ice-creams and you can even have a go at creating your own flavour.

How to get thereRegular buses run from Dumfries and Stranraer to Castle Douglas.

Step by step

Photograph: Graphic

1 From Castle Douglas town centre walk down King Street and out of the town. Follow the pavement by Carlingwark loch, passing a line of cottages at The Buchan to reach a minor road.

2 Turn left, walk along the verge and past the road for Rhonehouse to reach the entrance of Threave Gardens. Turn right and walk along the drive to the visitor centre. You will need to pay an entrance fee if you wish to explore the gardens, which are best known for the 200 varieties of daffodils on display in springtime.

3 From the car park walk a short way back along the access road. Turn left down the grass bank (where there is a white estate "Walk" sign on a post) to a lower access road. Turn left then right, walk through a car park and cross over the main road past Hightae Cottage to a track. This is left almost immediately for a parallel woodland path, which leads down to houses.

4 Swing right on to an access road to reach steps on the right just before the main road. These lead to the main road opposite a gated track. Cross over and follow that up and over the A75 to a gate up on the right, which gives access to Barley Hill Wood.

5 Where the path joins the old railway line turn left and follow it to just beyond the bridge where a path leads up right to join the road to Threave Castle. A signposted path leads from the whitewashed farmhouse and outbuildings of the National Trust's Threave wildfowl reserve to Threave Castle, maintained and opened to the public by Historic Scotland.

6 Retrace your steps to the old railway and continue towards Lamb Island, exiting on to the access road to Lodge of Kelton Farm. Follow this left past houses and straight ahead on to a track and bridge over the A75.

7 Turn left soon after and follow a sometimes muddy path that takes you through woodland and fields, crossing a minor road and continuing on to another. Turn left and follow this road back to Hightae Cottage from where you can retrace your steps to Threave Gardens and then back to Castle Douglas.